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Pope County

Minnesota · Public K-12

Public K-12 enrollment in Pope County totals about 1,421 students across 8 schools, an average of 178 per campus. Minnewaska School District is the largest district. The level mix is 3 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools.

7-year change in Pope County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
1,421
+74 (+5%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
7
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
93%
was 93%
% Hispanic
3%
was 3%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
8
2 districts
Enrollment
1,421
NCES CCD
Median income
$76,220
Below Minnesota avg
Free/reduced lunch
31.1%
Below Minnesota avg
Elementary
3
446 students
Middle
2
507 students
High
2
424 students
Combined / other
1
44 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
MINNEWASKA SCHOOL DISTRICT
1,324 students · 2 districts in Pope County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Pope County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".

County residents
White
94%
Hispanic
2%
Black
1%
Asian
1%
Two or more
3%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
93%
Hispanic
3%
Black
1%
Asian
1%
Two or more
3%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
23.9%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
5.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
1.3%
civilian labor
Median age
45
21.4% under 18

Test scores in Pope County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 5 schools ranked. Minnesota state average: 49.9%.

See all 5 schools in Pope County ranked by score →

All schools (8)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
MINNEWASKA SECONDARYGlenwoodHigh07-12424·
MINNEWASKA AREA ELEMENTARYGlenwoodElementaryKG-03317·
Minnewaska Area Intermediate SchoolGlenwoodMiddle04-06295·
MINNEWASKA AREA JUNIOR HIGHGlenwoodMiddle07-08212·
GLACIAL HILLS ELEMENTARYStarbuckElementaryPK-0697·
Minnewaska Area WIN AcademyStarbuckCombinedKG-1244·
MINNEWASKA EARLY CHILDHOOD SP.ED.GlenwoodElementaryPK-PK32·
MINNEWASKA SECONDARY ALTERNATIVE PGGlenwoodHigh09-120·

Cities in Pope County

Glenwood6 schoolsStarbuck2 schools

About Pope County

In Minnesota, Pope County is a rural-scale county of about 11,418 residents. 8 public schools across the county teaches about 1,421 students between them.

Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show the median household earns about $76,220 a year, about 24% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 6% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

Looking at the level breakdown, Pope County comprises 3 elementary schools (446 students), 2 middle schools (507), 2 high schools (424), and 1 combined or other schools.

MINNEWASKA SCHOOL DISTRICT is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 1,324 students across Pope County.

Over the past 7-year window. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment rose 5%: 1,347 students in SY 2017-18 versus 1,421 in SY 2024-25.

On this page, the community for Pope County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Pope County?
There are 8 public K-12 schools in Pope County, Minnesota, with a combined enrollment of about 1,421.
How many high schools are in Pope County?
Pope County, Minnesota has 2 public high schools, serving approximately 424 students.
How many middle schools are in Pope County?
Pope County, Minnesota has 2 public middle schools, serving approximately 507 students.
How many elementary schools are in Pope County?
Pope County, Minnesota has 3 public elementary schools, serving approximately 446 students.
What is the largest school district in Pope County?
MINNEWASKA SCHOOL DISTRICT is the largest school district in Pope County, serving approximately 1,324 students. The county contains 2 school districts overall.
What is the population of Pope County?
Pope County, Minnesota has a population of approximately 11,418, with a median age of 45. About 21.4% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Pope County?
Median household income in Pope County is $76,220, below the Minnesota average of $77,501. About 5.6% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Pope County?
Approximately 23.9% of adults 25 and older in Pope County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Pope County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 31.1% of students in Pope County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the Minnesota county average of 41.1%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Pope County schools?
Across Pope County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 16.4 to 1.

Pope County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data